Which Years Of Used Ford Mustang Mach-Es Are Most Reliable?
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The Ford Mustang Mach-E made waves when it debuted in 2020 (as a 2021 model). The automaker’s first all-electric crossover had nothing in common with the Ford Mustang besides a name. Being a brand-new model, the Mach-E doesn’t have a longer track of some competitors (like the Tesla Model Y). So, wondering about the most reliable Ford Mustang Mach-E years is only natural.
One aspect of electric vehicles (EVs) that often gets talked about is that they have fewer moving parts than cars with internal combustion engines and traditional transmissions. The belief is that this translates into better reliability. But does the lack of a conventional powertrain make the Mach-E more trustworthy?
With three editions (2021-2023) now on the streets, we can identify the most reliable Ford Mustang Mach-E years. To do so, we’ll examine data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Consumer Reports, and J.D. Power. Based on this information, we’ll assign a reliability ruling for each Mach-E module year.
THE FORD MUSTANG MACH-E YEARS TO AVOID
Joining Ford’s lineup for the 2021 model year, this breakthrough car is becoming more prominent in the used car market, which leads to the question, what are the Ford Mustang Mach-E years to avoid?
Our primary focus is looking for critical troubles with the electric system and powertrain, elements at every EV’s heart. Importantly, we’re only assessing reliability. You’ll want to research safety, economy, and other factors necessary to make an informed purchase decision.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Reliability Ruling: Avoid at all costs
Buying the first year of an all-new vehicle can quickly turn excitement into a headache. New car designs are frequently accompanied by gremlins that get worked out in future years. Encountering these issues is particularly worrisome with an entirely new platform like the Mach-E, Ford’s first EV engineered from the ground up as all-electric. As advanced as the vehicle is, there’s still a significant risk for owners to encounter problems. And sometimes, first-year hiccups never go away.
J.D. Power gave the Mach-E a 60 (out of 100) for quality and reliability, which the auto research sums up in one word, “fair.” But that would be a barely passing grade for students and is unusually low for a J.D. Power-rated car.
What’s really confusing is that Consumer Reports (CR) gives the 2021 Mach-E a mid-tier 3 (out of 5) reliability verdict. On a stand-alone basis, this ranking would be acceptable. However, a review of NHTSA data has us questioning CR’s rating, which the fine print reveals as an “informed prediction.” In other words, this is an educated guess, not a fact-based assessment.
Why is there a question about CR’s results? Because the 2021 Mach-E has more owner complaints and recalls than any other model year, according to NHTSA. That’s a fact. What sends up a red flair is that almost half of the owner reports involve problems with the electric system. That’s not a good sign for any vehicle but is particularly problematic with an EV.
We’ll also add that one of the six recalls involves an overheating battery contact, which can cause an affected Mach-E to lose power while in motion. Ford reports that most Mach-Es recalled for this issue have been corrected. However, reports show that power loss is still an issue for some owners.
The 2021 edition definitely doesn’t belong among the most reliable Ford Mustang Mach-E years.
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2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Reliability Ruling: Still Not Worthy
An initial look at numbers from NHTSA about the 2022 Mach-E suggests hope. Owner complaints are down by 80%, and recalls have been cut in half. But a dive into the data uncovers the unpleasant truth. About half of the owner complaints still involve electrical system issues, and there are several cases with loss-of-power reports (problems that also plagued the 2021 Mach-E).
Fewer recalls are always better, but one of these notices is a carryover from 2021. It involves the overheating battery contact issue and possible power loss. A second recall, covering a defective drive axle, only affects a smaller number of 2022 Mach-Es but points to questions about quality control.
Rankings from the review outfits don’t contradict this assessment. J.D. Power is consistent by giving the 2022 Mach-E a 60 for quality and reliability. From this point of view, the group failed to see any improvements over the 2021 edition. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports gives this Ford a bottom-of-the-barrel reliability score of 1. Even if you question the group’s assessment methodology, there’s no evidence that could significantly increase the Mach-E’s reliability ranking here.
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2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Reliability Ruling: OK to buy
There’s insufficient evidence to give the 2023 edition a whole-hearted endorsement for dependability. However, we believe it belongs on the list of the most reliable Ford Mustang Mach-E years.
Mainly, this comes from very few owner complaints being submitted to NHTSA. As of this writing, that adds up to ten reports. Compared to the approximately 18,000 Mach-E units that Ford has sold from January through July 2023, the number of cases is quite modest. A few of these involve the electrical system, but not at the levels of earlier Mach-E years. After a year, we’d expect to see greater numbers if there was a pattern of problems. And, of course, no car is perfect.
Consumers Reports does rank the 2023 Mach-E with a sub-par 2 (out of 5), but this is as much a head-scratcher as the 3 it gave the 2021 edition with its record number of owner complaints. J.D. Power has not rated the 2023 Mach-E.
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Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
With the 2024 versions arriving soon at Ford showrooms, you’ll encounter 2023 Mach-Es as new-car leftovers, demo units (which may be used or new, depending on the dealer), or used cars. Always get a used car (including a demo unit) inspected by a professional mechanic before buying. In the case of EVs, be sure that the assessment measures the health of the main EV battery.
The factory warranty for the Ford Mustang Mach-E includes three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper protection, five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage, and eight years or 100,000 miles of EV battery protection. Coverage starts from the initial in-service date and transfers to subsequent owners.
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